TERRACING has returned to Celtic Park for the first time since 1994 and so has a worry which once plagued the club over 20 years ago.

During those bleak times when the old board were essentially squatters and their nod towards a 20th century football stadium was to put bucket seats in the Jungle, the team, while far from great, were always capable of playing some good football at times and scoring goals.

What let them down on the park was their inability to defend. Not the View, the always excellent fanzine, came to calling the back five “The Sieve” so easy was it for the opposition, both domestically and certainly in Europe, to get a goal or two.

Now that was a different era and a different Celtic. The stadium is magnificent, made even better with the safe standing, a sixth title in a row is a real possibility and last time I checked Wayne Biggins wasn’t in the match-day squad.

But despite all the planning, all the money spent on players and on the Academy, Celtic were a head knock away from going into Wednesday’s game with Lincoln Red Imps, and maybe even the first leg of the next round against either ?algiris of Lithuania or the dangerous Astana from Kazakhstan, heavy favourites to win their tie, with one senior fit central defender.

And that would have been Efe Ambrose.

Brendan Rodgers would have let out a huge sigh of relief when told on Saturday evening that Erik Sviatchnko’s blow to his face was not serious, that there was no evidence of concussion and the Dane was okay to play this midweek.

Who plays beside him remains to be seen; however, Celtic in 2016 should not find themselves in this position, which is hoping an unproven centre-half is fit because if not then his team were left with some kids, maybe a full-back and a player who can’t do one thing right without making three mistakes as a choice for central defence.

Not for any game, be it Lincoln Imps or Astana who, by the way, drew with Athletico Madrid in last season’s group stages.

The club believe Jozo Simonovic is a talent but knew he was not going to be fit until late August. Dedryck Boyata has still to convince and yet he is still a senior defender - but again was always going to miss the qualifiers.

Rodgers needs to get a defender in this week. If Kazakhstan and Astana are the next port of call, the back two cannot be Sviatchenko and AN Other. If it is then Celtic are not getting to the Champions League play-off, never mind the group stages.

By all accounts Astana are good, they never lose at home and their stadium is properly intimidating. It will be no place for the inexperienced or out of form.

None of this is the fault of Rodgers. Quite rightly he has taken time to assess the players and work out who stays and who goes.

“There’s no pressure to move players out but as the weeks go on it will be very clear that I work with a small group,” he said on Saturday and then joked; “I don’t have to worry about losing another midfield player. We have another 20 to pick from!”

The new man has inherited an old problem. Too many of the same type taking up space in the squad and he has just a few weeks to buy, sell, shuffle and win a few games into the bargain.

Of course, this would not have happened had the club, as they should have done, sacked Ronny Deila either after the Malmo defeat or the debacle in Molde, allowing Rodgers or whoever six months to work out who was staying or going.

He does have talented players. Some good football was played against Wolfsburg. The 3-5-2 allowed Celtic to attack the Germans with pace and numbers. Moussa Dembele and the ever lively Leigh Griffiths formed a front two, which the punters have been crying out for. Behind them Callum McGregor scored a super goal and Patrick Roberts did well when he got on the ball.

The Celtic fans have been waiting for the real Stuart Armstrong to appear and that may be about to happen. Not for the first time this summer the midfielder stood out. He goes looking for the ball, gets into the box and has more energy about him.

McGregor can blow hot and cold but his goal was a cracker and this should be a big season for him.

Rodgers changed the entire team at half-time and in the second-half Ryan Christie’s good finish on the hour won the game for Celtic, Tom Rogic was more like his old self and Kristoffer Ajer, who had replaced Sviatchenko, settled down in defence and even won the sponsor’s man of the match.

But the pick of the second-half was Scott Allan who was good on the ball and worked hard off it. All this lad wants is a chance. He is going to get one under Rodgers.

Despite last week’s defeat and the worries in defence, Celtic are in decent shape. The squad will be trimmed and improved before the end of transfer window and the style of football should be kind on the eye.

But for all the good that is there and will come, the defence is a real concern. It is a very Celtic situation to be in.